Holmdel crash lands Keansburg woman in trauma center

HOLMDEL – Melanie R. Morrison, 29, of Keansburg was charged with drunken driving after her vehicle ran off Middletown Road at 3:17 a.m. Friday and struck a tree, trapping her inside, said Police Sgt. Charles Groder.

Morrison’s car was heading eastbound on Middletown Road near St. Catherine’s Church when it struck the large tree. The car rotated 90 degrees to its right and came to rest across the westbound lane without any lights on, Groder said. Morrison was trapped in her seat as a result of the violence of the impact and was unable to be taken out of her car until she was extricated by the fire and rescue squads.

The accident was discovered by Patrolman John Maguire who was traveling west on Middletown Road when he spotted the crashed car just seconds before Morrison gathered the strength to call 911 from her cellphone, Groder said.

Other Holmdel Police units arrived and began to assisting Maguire with the victim, Groder said. The road was closed for about two hours while firefighters, EMS and paramedics worked to free Morrison.

After being removed from the vehicle, Morrison was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where she is in critical condition.

Morrison’s injuries were severe enough to warrant using a helicopter to fly her to a trauma center, but weather prohibited this option.

Holmdel Road is now open to traffic, police said.

Maguire continues the crash investigation assisted by Sgt. Robert Philhower, Holmdel Traffic Safety Unit Supervisor. The Police Department asks that if anyone witnessed the crash, or has any information about the crash, that they please contact Philhower at 732-946-9690.